Background:

Tulsa Innovation Labs, LLC (TIL) is a tech-led economic development organization transforming the Tulsa region into a nationally recognized hub for advanced industries. By building coalitions across companies, research institutions, workforce partners, and public agencies, TIL identifies and removes barriers to innovation, enabling businesses to scale, commercialize new technologies, and compete globally.

TIL focuses on strategic industry clusters where Tulsa has a competitive advantage, including aerospace, energy technology, autonomous systems, and enabling infrastructure. Through federal partnerships, industry-led initiatives, and ecosystem coordination, TIL drives investment in research, commercialization, workforce development, and place-based infrastructure that benefits both companies and the broader regional economy.

Founded in 2020 by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, TIL has secured major federal awards including the Build Back Better Regional Challenge and Tech Hubs programs (one of only two regions in the country to do so) establishing a foundation for long-term impact. Today, TIL serves as a convener, system builder, and innovation catalyst, positioning the Tulsa region as a place where companies can grow, innovate, and lead in the industries of the future.

Position Summary:

The Director of Industry Relations is a leadership role responsible for shaping and executing Tulsa Innovation Labs’ strategy for industry engagement and ecosystem development. This position serves as a strategic connector between national and international companies, regional innovation initiatives, workforce systems, and infrastructure assets to accelerate industry growth in the Tulsa region.

The Director will identify, cultivate, and manage high-impact relationships across the full business lifecycle, ensuring companies are positioned to scale, innovate, and compete globally. Success in this role requires deep industry knowledge, the ability to navigate complex corporate structures, and the insight to translate business challenges into actionable opportunities for both TIL and the region.

As a trusted advisor, convener, and influencer, the Director will integrate intelligence and insights across TIL initiatives, aligning internal teams and external partners to strengthen Tulsa’s advanced industry ecosystem. The role balances proactive engagement with strategic account management, ensuring companies not only grow locally but also serve as catalysts for regional innovation, talent development, and infrastructure advancement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and Execute Comprehensive Corporate Engagement Strategy – Design and implement an integrated approach to corporate partnerships that identifies priority targets for new engagement while maintaining systematic outreach to existing businesses. Balance prospecting activities with retention efforts to maximize strategic value and outcomes across the full portfolio of corporate relationships aligned with TIL's targeted industry focus.
• Strategic Corporate Relationship Management – Build and maintain deep knowledge of each partner's business model, leadership structure, priorities, and decision-making processes, from initial engagement through long-term collaboration. Translate corporate insights into actionable opportunities for TIL initiatives, including pilot programs, commercialization partnerships, infrastructure investments, policy alignment, and workforce solutions that strengthen cluster competitiveness.
• Business Retention and Growth Facilitation – Identify challenges limiting innovation, investment, or operational growth among companies in the region. Work with corporate leadership and TIL initiative teams to deploy solutions such as research partnerships, pilot programs, capital access, talent strategies, or infrastructure development that enable companies to grow and compete.
• Partnership Development – Identify and cultivate partnerships that advance product commercialization, pilot deployments, industry-led research collaborations, shared infrastructure, federal funding opportunities (e.g., Tech Hubs, EDA, DOE), etc. Connect companies to regional assets including research institutions, testing facilities, manufacturing capacity, and technology pipelines. Position Tulsa as a place where innovation can be developed, demonstrated, and scaled.
• Internal Systems Integration and Insight Activation – Serve as the primary conduit between industry and TIL’s initiative, research, marketing, and business attraction teams. Synthesize intelligence gathered from corporate partners into actionable insights that inform strategic priorities, capital deployment, infrastructure development, workforce programming, and policy advocacy. Ensure industry voice shapes TIL initiatives and ecosystem design. Maintain rigorous CRM discipline to institutionalize relationship intelligence across the organization. 
• Strategic Influence with Corporate Decision Makers – Engage C-suite executives and senior leaders at both prospective and existing companies, navigating complex decision-making environments to build alignment, unlock resources, and secure long-term commitments to the Tulsa region. Demonstrate exceptional ability to articulate the region's value proposition while understanding and advancing corporate business objectives. 
• Performance Measurement and Continuous Improvement – Establish metrics and tracking systems to evaluate the effectiveness of corporate engagement activities across both new partnership development and existing business retention/expansion. Regularly assess portfolio health, identify opportunities for strategic reallocation of resources, and adapt engagement strategies based on evolving business needs and market conditions.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

Qualifications & Competencies:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, economic development, or a related field
• 8+ years of experience in economic development, corporate engagement, business retention, strategic partnerships, or business development
• Proven ability to engage senior corporate leaders and drive long term, mutually beneficial partnerships
• Demonstrated success in both acquiring new business relationships and expanding existing accounts
• Strong understanding of corporate structures, decision making processes, and economic development dynamics
• Experience working across cross functional teams to execute initiatives
• Excellent communication, problem solving, and strategic thinking skills
• Self-starter with demonstrated initiative, competitive spirit, and ability to manage time effectively to achieve established goals

Preferred:

• Experience with capital attraction, workforce strategy, or innovation ecosystems
• Existing connections to the regional business and/or education community
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and analysis in business or economic development contexts
• Familiarity with CRM and productivity tools (Salesforce, Asana)
• Experience in tech-led industries such as energy tech, advanced air mobility, and advanced manufacturing

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Connector – Ability to identify and link corporate priorities with TIL's mission across the full business lifecycle, from prospect to long term partner
• Trusted Influencer – Comfortable engaging C-suite executives, senior decision makers, and business leaders at all organizational levels
• Relationship Builder – Natural aptitude for developing and sustaining authentic business relationships built on mutual trust and value creation
• Adaptive Problem-Solver – Thrives in ambiguous, evolving environments and proactively drives creative solutions to complex business challenges
• Compelling Communicator – Strong ability to articulate complex ideas, and foster engagement through verbal and written communication with excellent grammar and presentation skills
• Action Oriented & Results Driven – Demonstrates urgency, proactive execution, and commitment to achieving measurable economic development outcomes
• Collaborative & Agile – Works effectively across teams, aligning resources to maximize impact while maintaining flexibility for changing business needs
• Detail Oriented – Superior organizational skills with ability to manage complex relationship portfolios while maintaining CRM documentation
• Professional Integrity – Acts with discretion, demonstrates consistently good judgment in handling sensitive information, and represents TIL with professionalism and respect

Physical Requirements:

• Communicate: Frequent phone, in-person, and messaging communication via various platforms. Must be able to exchange information effectively and accurately in all elements of verbal and written communication. 
• Operate: Constant operation of computers, phones, and other office productivity tools.
• Willingness and ability to travel between program and related stakeholder locations, service provider/vendor offices, and event/trade shows, as required. 

Hours & Location:

• Position is based in Tulsa, OK, within TIL headquarters located at 12 North Cheyenne Ave.
• Typical work hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 to 5:00, with flexibility required for various events, meetings, and relevant business needs.

Benefits and Compensation:

As part of our overall compensation package, we offer work/life flexibility, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and generous retirement contributions designed to support you and your family. 

Details:

• 100% employer paid medical, dental, and long-term disability for full-time employees only. Option to add vision and dependents.
• 401(k) employee and employer contributions
• Paid time off to support you while you are out of the office
• Paid holidays so our employees can spend time with those they care about.
• Employer-paid AD&D life insurance, with employee option to add supplemental life insurance.